Tip leads to three arrests on drug charges

A California man was arrested Sunday after Medford police reported finding a large amount of illegal drugs and a loaded gun in the hotel room he occupied.

By RYAN PFEIL

A California man was arrested Sunday after Medford police reported finding a large amount of illegal drugs and a loaded gun in the hotel room he occupied.

Donnie Clarence Stewart, II, 43, of Hickman, Calif., was arraigned Monday in Jackson County Circuit Court on charges of delivery and possession of methamphetamine, possession of heroin and being a felon in possession of a firearm, court records show. He remains in the Jackson County Jail on $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing on his case has been scheduled for 4 p.m. March 3.

Crystal Shanti Bourn, 25, and Lacey Jane Bryant-Lovrin, 26, both of Medford, were found in the motel room and arrested on possession of methamphetamine and heroin charges, with an additional charge of methadone possession for Bryant-Lovrin, arrest records show. Both women were released on their own recognizance, police said.

Police said they responded to an anonymous report of suspected drug activity at 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Officers went to the Red Carpet Inn at 525 S. Riverside Drive and said they found Stewart, Bourn and Bryant-Lovrin in the room, along with a variety of drugs. Police said they found 23 grams of methamphetamine, two grams of heroin, a small vial containing three methadone pills, and a loaded Springfield Armory 9mm handgun.

"The drugs were somewhat spread out throughout the room," said Lt. Mike Budreau, adding packaging materials were also found. "We believe there were sales going on."

Most of the drugs were found in a bag police believe belonged to Stewart, Budreau said.

The location is within 1,000 feet of Logos Charter School, which increases the possible penalties. Authorities believe Stewart, who has a warrant out for his arrest in California — though specific charges were not available — rented the room under a fake name, police said.

"This is not uncommon to what we see in the local drug community," Budreau said. "(Suspects) often will all co-habitate together, at least temporarily in a hotel or house."

The Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement Team has been made aware of the case, though Medford police made the initial arrests, Budreau said.

Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or by email at rpfeil@mailtribune.com.